World Design for Video Games

Start creating your world. A game world is not just a backdrop for your game—be it minimal or detailed, contained or part of a much bigger universe, it provides the context for your player. Ultimately, a game world should feel alive and wholly unique to any player who will experience it. In this course, we will explore game worlds in existing games and study the art and influences that inform their themes and styles. We will also investigate key components of environment and level design as well as strategies designers use to define gameplay or advance it. We’ll also look at navigation and the elements that make your world as real (or unreal) as you want it to be. A weekly challenge will prompt you to explore styles and inspirations for possible game worlds, and you’ll learn effective ways to communicate your ideas from concepts to presentation-worthy proofs of concept

• Explore game worlds in existing games
• Study the art and thematic influences
• Analyze components of environment and level design
• Create realistic or imaginative game worlds
• Investigate styles and inspirations through weekly challenges
• Communicate ideas from concepts to proofs of concept

• Basic computer and internet skills
• Ability to read course instructions in English and complete short practice activities